🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 18 Aug 1946 🧢 1st XIv DC Davington Priory CC · AwayformWWLDD

Fenner's Ground Diary, 18 August 1946

The coin fell against us at Davington Priory, and their captain, with the confidence of a man who fancied his bowlers, put us in without a moment's hesitation. It looked, for a spell, a shrewd piece of business, but Ron Wratten had other ideas, and settled to compile a superb hundred, 104 of the finest, correct and unhurried, the sort of innings that has spectators reaching for their pipes in quiet contentment. Stan Wratten gave him honest company with a useful 20, and between them the pair put the match beyond argument before we ever took the field.

Defending our total, we found Herbert Rayner in irresistible form, turning the ball prodigiously to finish with 5 for 26, a spell that fairly unpicked the home batting. I was glad to lend a hand myself and picked up a share of the wickets along the way. X Stroud bowled with real hostility for 3 for 8, and Stan Wratten, not content with his runs, took 2 for 20 for good measure, a display that quietly carried him past Tom Peach Snr into 17th place on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers. Eric Jacobs battled gamely for his 27, though Clifford Jacobs will have little wish to dwell on his duck.

We ran out winners by 91 runs, a handsome margin against sporting opponents, and the eleven came off Davington's ground well pleased with a thoroughly good day's cricket.

Sat 20 Jul 1946 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformLWWLD

We took the road to Gore Court on a fine Saturday, the twentieth of July, and I lost the toss, which meant the pleasure of leather before willow was to be ours first. Gore Court built steadily to 173 all out in 43.5 overs, Brian French playing the anchor's part with a fine 52 and Jack Whibley Jnr chipping in handsomely with 44, but once those two were parted our bowlers ran through the order in a rush, 134 for 4 becoming 141 for 7 almost before the scorebook could keep pace. Gordon Fenner bowled with real fire, six wickets for 55 and four maidens to show for his industry, T Henley took three for 58, and Bert Buckoke claimed one, while poor Albert Richardson departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

Our reply promised much and, in truth, delivered only half of it. Tom Osborn played the innings of the day, 73 of real substance, well supported by Ron Wratten's 22 in a sound second-wicket stand of 52. But the middle order chose that afternoon to desert us, 133 for 4 crumbling to 133 for 7 in the blink of an eye, Bert Pierce, Bert Buckoke and I all returning for nought — I shall say no more of my own contribution than that. We closed on 140 for 9 from our 49 overs, and honours were shared, a draw that pleased neither side wholly but did no discredit to either, played as it was in the best traditions of the game.

Sun 14 Jul 1946 🧢 1st XIv DC Davington Priory CC · HomeformDLWWL

On the fourteenth of July we welcomed Davington Priory to our ground, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in sending them in — the pitch looked a shade lively early on, and I fancied our bowlers might make early use of it. It proved, I think, the right decision, though the visitors made us work hard enough for our rewards.

Davington Priory batted through their innings, F Bassant playing a fine hand of 62 to anchor things, well supported by Reginald Jacobs with 39. Herbert Rayner bowled with real purpose to finish with 4 for 49, and Barry Langridge backed him admirably with 3 for 40. I had the satisfaction of picking up a couple myself, 2 for 34, though the honours of the day belonged to others.

Our reply saw Stan Wratten in majestic touch for 62, ably supported by Frank Sutton, unbeaten on 24, and Ron Wratten with a useful 21. Two milestones of note attended the innings — Stan Wratten's runs brought his career aggregate for the club to a thousand, a fine landmark honestly earned, while Frank Sutton's contribution carried him past E C Streatfield and into fifteenth place on the club's all-time list of run-getters. Stan continues to lead our run charts this season with 86, and Herbert Rayner sits atop the wicket-takers with 11.

In the end neither side could force matters home, and honours were shared. A draw, but a thoroughly sporting one, and Davington Priory proved most agreeable opponents throughout.

Sat 01 Jun 1946 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformLDLWW

The toss went against us, and Gore Court, good sporting visitors that they are, elected to bat upon a wicket that gave nothing away lightly. We began well enough, prising out their opener for a mere run to the board, but Robert Hedges and his partner settled in and put on a stubborn sixty-three for the second wicket that rather took the shine off our morning. Hedges made a fine 43, Jack Whibley Jnr followed with 42, and Albert C E Richardson chipped in a useful 26, carrying the visitors to 153 for 9 in their 41.4 overs. Herbert Rayner bowled quite beautifully to finish with 5 for 62, and had good company in N Judge, who took 3 for 30, and T Henley with 1 for 30.

Our reply, I am sorry to report, never found its feet. The first wicket went down for a wretched single, and though we steadied briefly, the innings collapsed in a rush from 47 for 5 to 58 for 8. L Ricketts and K Vince both fell without troubling the scorer, and I must own to keeping them company with a duck of my own, upon which the less said the better. We were all out for 60 in 25.5 overs, well beaten by 93 runs.

Not our day, then, and heads up for the nets this week. It is pleasing nonetheless to see Maurice Fenner sitting second in our season's run charts and Herbert Rayner leading the wickets with seven, proof that better days are not far off for this eleven.

Sun 26 May 1946 🧢 1st XIv DC Davington Priory CC · AwayformWLDLW

The road to Davington Priory on that Sunday in May was a fine excuse for a day's cricket, and though the toss went against us and I saw our opponents elect to bat, there was no cause for gloom in it — a good side makes the most of whichever half of the game falls to it, and ours did just that in the field. Davington Priory found little comfort against our attack, H Baldock departing without troubling the scorers, and L Ricketts bowling with real venom to finish with 3 for 18. He had willing support from Herbert Rayner, who took 2 for 3, and I was glad to chip in with 2 for 14 myself, the three of us fairly sharing the spoils and leaving the home side's innings a modest affair.

Called upon to bat, we went about our task in businesslike fashion, Stan Wratten playing the innings of the day with a plucky 24 that anchored things nicely, and the runs came steadily enough to see us home by six wickets, a thoroughly satisfying result on a ground not our own.

Worth a mention for the club's records: Ricketts's three wickets carried him past T Gandy and up to twenty-fourth on the all-time list of wicket-takers, a fine personal landmark on a fine team day. A sporting fixture, sportingly won, and one to remember the drive home for.